– HORNBUCKLE VS. BLACKBURN AT BELLATOR 25

Press Release Courtesy of Bellator Fighting Championships
Bellator Season 2 welterweight tournament runner-up Dan Hornbuckle will look to return to his winning ways following a June defeat suffered in the tournament championship when he faces off against the hard-hitting UFC veteran “Bad” Brad Blackburn at the historic Chicago Theatre on Aug. 19 as a special feature fight at Bellator 25.

Known for highlight reel knockouts and spectacular submissions, Hornbuckle (21-3-0) has handled 10 of his previous victims via KO or TKO, while finishing another 10 with his impressive ground game. The proud Native American cruised through the quarter and semifinal rounds of the Bellator Season 2 welterweight tournament with a pair of first-round submissions before eventually falling to former U.S. Olympic wrestler Ben Askren in the finals.

With his last several fights being finished on the canvas in one form or another, Hornbuckle is eager to test himself against the experienced and dangerous veteran with an established reputation as a fellow knockout artist.

“Bad Brad is a really tough opponent and it’s going to be a good start to my win-streak,” said Hornbuckle. “Brad’s skill sets are going to complement mine and I’ll finally be able to unleash the The Handler’s stand-up without any wrestling tackles involved.”

With 26 fights spanning over a nine-year career, including notable stints in the IFL as well as the UFC, Blackburn (15-11-1) has compiled a number of impressive victories that include knockout stoppages of Pat Healy and Jay Hieron, along with notable wins over Ryo Chonan and Edgar Garcia. The Seattle native, who started training in boxing in his early 20s before quickly changing to MMA, says he is unafraid of Hornbuckle’s notoriously devastating stand-up game.

“Hornbuckle is a top-level fighter with a great record. I’m excited to fight him, but I’m not scared of anyone’s striking in MMA,” said Blackburn. “I’ve been around for a long time, wherever this fight goes, I’ll be comfortable. If he wants to stand and bang, let’s do it.”